Candidate Selection for European Elections in Germany

Abstract

This chapter provides a detailed description of candidate selection for the European Parliament within German parties. With the help of document analyses of party statutes, interviews, and a survey, I collected information about formal and informal rules of candidate pre-selection and list placement in German parties. For the description and analysis of candidate selection in Germany I use four dimensions of candidate selection proposed by Rahat and Hazan (2001): Candidacy, Selectorate, Decentralization, and Appointment and Voting System.